Washington,D.C. - 99 out of 100 American children make less than the wage of $10,400, considered to be the threshold of poverty for a single person. Most actually have to beg other people for food, money and clothes.
This grim picture was painted by the United States Census Bureau in a report due to be released latter this month. It stands in stark contrast to the perception that American children all live in mansions and drive Lamborghinis. The sad fact is that all too few children have such luxuries.
Howard Muff, aged 12, for instance relies on his wealthy parents for all of his needs; and while they drive expensive cars and wear great clothes, he spends his days in torn dungarees and hand-me-down t-shirts which he gets from his cousins.
He eats junk food off of paper plates while watching cable TV or playing video games in his room alone, or with a few equally poor friends. "Life sucks!" Howard exclaims, "None of my friends has any money either. We have to beg for everything!"
His bleak existence is lived out again and again in this so-called "Land of plenty". Jobs are scarce for kids and what jobs there are -mowing lawns, taking out the trash- don't pay well. Surely not enough to live off of.
Being forced to attend school and taking part in extra-curricular activities leaves little time to work when work is available. And while some have pushed for reforms which would enable children to work and earn more, there's no such legislation pending before congress at this time. For the time being, American kids will just have to make do with what little they have, while hoping for better things to come.
